The New Guard

Fashion is a world of finds, discoveries, innovation and change. What makes fashion a center of births and rebirths is the "new" news in design, labels, jewelry, perfume, models, photographers, stylist, etc. Every year, discoveries rise to the forefront of global fashion news giving curiosity and excitement to this ever changing industry. This year, the September issue of British Vogue proclaimed 15 new designers – Scott Stephen, Philip Lim, Thakoon Panichgul, Door RI Chung to name a few – to watch out for as they bring fun and excitement to international fashion. In the Philippines, eight youthful and promising design talents, eight visions of tomorrow’s fashion and eight individualistic styles form the next generation of the Young Designers Guild (YDG).

After being screened and selected from a pool of dreaming aspirants, this batch has finally arrived. Emerging from different disciplines and armed with their work aesthetics, their designs represent a youthful mood that celebrates modern classicism, brilliant creativity and experimentation and striking innovations. Their individualistic style statements have an allure that is effortlessly appealing which have captured the eyes of fashion worshippers, the establishment and people in the know. Their design philosophies represent a movement in the future of design which combines classic-traditional with the new and now. The young creative ingénues are Brian Leyva, Louis Claparols, Mitzi Quilendrino, Ciara Marasigan, Patty Eustaquio, Ferdi Abuel, Nikka Velayo and John Herrera.

As the new forces begin their journey in Philippine fashion, their wit and wonder make us look forward to the look and shape of things to come.